Decorative bows



7 Nov. 26, 1963. R. s. KRAVIG EI'AL 3,112,240

DECORATIVE BOWS Original Filed July 23, 1958 Wyn mes 290.64%? .5. A764W6 flmvao E Jomvsoxv United States Patent 3,112,245? DECORATIVE BOWSRobert S Kravig, Bloomington, and Arnold E. Johnson, Maplewood, Minn,assignors to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Jornpany, St. Paul,Minn, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application fler. No.855,484, Oct. 29, $59, which is a division of application Ser. No.759,396, fully 23, 1358, now Patent No. 2,933,223, dated Apr. 19, 1960.This application Oct. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 228,497

5 Ilaims. (Cl. 161-10) The present invention relates to the art ofdecorating such things as gift packages, displays, tables, holidayscenes, and the like with decorative bow structures. More particularly,this invention is directed to the provision of novel decorative bowstructures formed of strip material such as decorative ribbon. Thisapplication is in the nature of a continuation of our earlier copendingapplication Serial No. 855,484, filed October 29, 1959, now abandoned,which in turn is a division of our earlier application Serial No.750,396, filed July 23, 1958, now United States Patent No. 2,933,223,granted April 19, 1960. Our said patent relates to fabricating machinesfor rapidly forming decorative bow structures, including those hereof,virtually in their completed state, and to methods for fabricating suchbows.

The preparation of fancy, attractive displays, holiday decorations, andparticularly gift packages using decorative ribbons and papers hasbecome a highly commercialized business. Manufacturers of decorativeribbons and decorative wrapping papers and such like have vigorouslypromoted the use of their commodities in the preparation of attractivelywrapped packages. Many industrial concerns, for example departmentstores and novelty shops, have organized separate departments almostexclusively engaged in gift Wrapping commodities purchased elsewhere intheir stores. Particularly around holiday times, these departments giftwrap large numbers of packages every working day. Others have made abusiness of fabricating decorative bow structures in mass quantities forsale to the home users, so that the latter can wrap their own gifts andpackages, and formulate their own decorative displays without having totie or fabricate decorative bows themselves.

Still other concerns, as part of promotional endeavors, have utilizeddecorative ribbon products in the cornmercialization of their products.For example, during the various holiday seasons distilleries and othervendors of beverage goods often sell their bottled products fancilywrapped in packages employing ornamental decorative ribbon bows, theobject being that the product can be given by the purchaser to anotheras a gift without any further ornamental or decorative wrapping beingnecessary. Promotional advertising of such concerns in magazines,newspapers, etc., emphasizes the attractively packaged goods in aneffort thereby to induce sales to those buying the products specificallyas gifts for others.

Such wide and increasing commercial usage of decorative ribbon productsrequires that ribbon products be susceptible of production in largequantities in a relatively short time. The fewer manual operationsinvolved the better. However, in order to be sufficiently pleasing andunique so that the purchasing public is willing to use the bow productson personal gifts and packages, the bows must be individualistic inappearance. That is, they should not be stereotyped or non-personal.Ordinarily mass production, on the other hand, and the provision ofattractive, unique, individualistic and artistic appearing bow products,on the other, are antagonistic desires. The present invention isespecially concerned with the mutual satisfaction of these wants.

3,ll2,24 Patented Nov. 26, i363 Various literature articles and patentshave issued from time to time over recent years relating to theprovision of decorative structures and to machines and devices formaking the same. The ornamental pompon of puff bow, fashioned from manyloops of ribbon to resemble a tufted ball, has become quite popular.This popularity is due in large part to the ease and speed with whichthe pompon bows can be formed from a prefabricated hank of decorativeribbon, all in accordance with McMahon Reissue Patent No. 23,835,granted June 8, 1954. Machines by which the prefabricated hanks ofribbon can be manufactured rapidly and in large numbers are disclosedand claimed in Duncan Patent No. 2,872,086, granted February 3, 1959, onapplication Ser. No. 526,856, copending herewith, as acontinuation-in-part of Duncan application Ser. No. 366,844, filed July8, 1953, now abandoned. Although the ornamental pompon bows formed inaccordance with the aforesaid McMahon and Duncan patents have satisfieda very real need in that they are one of the very first types of bowsconsisting of many radiating loops of ribbon to be manufactured evenpartly in mass production, nevertheless very substantial manualoperations, i.e., the forming of the bow from the prefabricated hank ofribbon, are involved in their manufacture. However, it is desirable thatas many manual operations as possible be eliminated from operationswherein large numbers of completed bows are manufactured.

Others have concerned themselves with the fabrication of decorative bowsfrom lengths of strip material. James Patent No, 2,681,525, granted June22, 1954, discloses bows formed from continuous lengths of stripmaterial preformed to a desired shape or perforated condition. However,such bows as are disclosed in said James patent, as a practical matter,are required to be formed by hand procedures and are not susceptible ofproduction in large quantities. Moreover those bows disclosed whereinloops radiate in many directions from the bow center are so formed thatsome loops have one surface of the ribbon exposed outwardly, and theremaining loops have the opposite ribbon surface exposed outwardly. Suchbows thus are not advantageously formed of commercially availabledecorative ribbons wherein one surface, i.e., the face surface, isprovided with a high sheen and the opposite or back surface has adifferent, such as a rather dull finish. Bows made from commercialribbons of this type contain many dull appearing loops randomlyinterspersed with loops wherein the face surface of high sheen isexposed. More recently, Wanchek Patent No. 2,841,905, granted July 8,1958, likewise concerns decorative bows of continuous strip materialwhich is preperforated in order to provide a series of spaced aperturesto accommodate formation of the bow loops, but in some respects certainbows pictured appear aesthetically somewhat similar to certain bowshereof. Like the bow structures disclosed in the aforesaid James PatentNo. 2,681,525, the Wanchek structures, as a practical matter, requiremanual manipulation of the ribbon in the foramtion of each of the bowloops, and have not seen insofar as we are aware, significant usagewhere even moderately large quantities are required at a time such as inthe commercial use of preformed bows above referred to.

lames Patent No. 2,774,164, granted December 18, 1956, as acontinuation-in-part of the aforementioned James Patent No. 2,681,525,discloses bows containing loops radiating in many directions from acentral holding pin, and wherein a similar ribbon surface may beexteriorly exposed in all loops. But such bows as are disclosed in thelatter James patent are formed of individually formed loops eachconsisting of a separate independent strip. They are not susceptible ofrapid production in large quantities, and are also rather limited intype 3 and style. Welch Patent No. 2,763,080, granted September 18,1956, and Ruiz et al. Patent No. 2,666,249, granted January 19, 1954,also are concerned with the formation of decorative bow structures.

To our knowledge no one heretofore has provided commerically preformedindividualistic-appearing attractive ornamental bow structures ofvarious shapes and configurations fashioned from continuous lengths ofribbon wherein the loops of ribbon are formed and disposed alongnumerous radii about the bow center (so that the loops are spread aroundsaid center similar to the arrangement of the petals of a flower), andwherein the loops of the bow, particularly in their curved or bightportions, are smoothly arcuate with the same surface of the ribbonexposed outwardly in each loop. Nor have methods and machines heretoforebeen devised, insofar as we are aware, for rapidly fabricating such bowstructures in large quantities. Our invention is principally directedtoward the satisfactory solution of these problems.

The decorative bows of the present invention are highly suited for useas ornamental decorations, particularly the packaging or gift wrappingfields; but elsewhere as well. For example, they form distinctivedecorations for Window displays, table displays, Christmas trees andsuch like. The ornamental bows hereof comprise a continuous length ofstrip material (which is free of prepcrforations, i.e. free of spacedpredisposed holding member receiving apertures) formed into a successionof loops radiating from a common point at the bow center along at leastthree radii. The loops of the bow are so fashioned that the same surfaceof the ribbon is exposed similarly outwardly in each loop. The two endsof the rib- .bon length of which the bow is formed terminate adjacentopposite surfaces of the bow, with central holding means retaining theseveral loops together in the desired relation at the bow center,without substantial excision or removal of ribbon material toaccommodate the holding member. In preferred bow structures the legs ofeach loop intersect at the bow center in face-to-back relation andremain essentially uncreased and unfolded while the bight portion of theloops remain smoothly arcuate, whereby unique radially symmetricalarrangements of loops can be obtained with the loops taking a generallyconoidal shape with their small ends radially outermost.

The manner in which these and other objectives and advantages areattained by and in accordance with our invention will be readilyapparent from the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments, especially in light of the accompanying drawings, whereinlike reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the severalviews, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a three-point bow of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a three-point bow shown in a partiallycompleted state in order to illustrate the manner in which the same ismanufactured;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a central binding pin which can beused in the fabrication of the bows hereof;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a bow hereof containing five groups ofradially symmetrically disposed loops to give the appearance of afive-point star bow;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a randomly disposed multipointed decorativebow hereof; and

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a puff-type bow, fabricated on the novelmachine hereof, wherein the loops of the how are not of conoidal shape.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2 the three-point bow shown comprises acontinuous length of strip material formed into a succession of radiallydisposed loops it 11, 12, 13, 14, i5, 16, 17 and 18. Each of the loopsis composed of a pair of legs, e.g., 10a and 10b of loop 10, 11a and 11bof loop 11, 12a and 12b of loop 12, and a curved portion or bightconnecting the legs. The legs of each loop intersect in face-to-backrelation at a generally central point common with the points ofintersection of the legs of the other loops. Actually the loops are notseparate and distinct, all being successively formed from the samelength of strip material. Each loop has a leg common with the oppositeleg of each loop in immediate succession therewith. For instance, leg10!) of loop 10 is common with leg 11a of loop 11, the only loop inimmediate succession with loop 19; while in loop 12, also in immediatesuccession with loop ll, leg 12a is common with the opposite leg 11!) ofloop 11.

The loops of the preferred bow shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 are of generallyconoidal shape, having an appearance akin to that of a cone. The smallend of the loop is radially outermost, the loops thus imparting theillusion of pointirv outwardly like the points of a star.

At the central point where the loop legs intersect the loops are boundtogether in generally fixed relation by a pin member 19 upon which saidlegs are impaled as the loops are formed. It will be apparent that thereis at least some lateral displacement of the ribbon in the severalsuperposed loop legs at areas immediately adjacent to where pierced bythe pin on which impaled, so that the ribbon is slightly pushed aside orbunched in making way for the holding member. There is no substantialexcision of ribbon to accommodate the holding member as in the instanceof bows of certain prior art made from preperforated or prepunchedribbon. The displaced ribbon (apparently in seeking its originalposition and/or because slightly bunched) in the loop leg ribbon layersseems to urge holding forces against the holding member and againstother adjacent layers so that once the bow is formed the loops tend tohold their relative position and resist movement with respects to oneanother, even where a single shaft holding member such as the pin shownin FIGURE 3 is employed.

As shown in said FIGURE 3 said pin comprises a shaft 24 a broad fiatbase 21 and a conical point 22 the inner surface of which has a diameterexceeding that of shaft 20. Thus the point 22 and the head 21 keep thelegs of the loops from radially slipping off of shaft 29 once the stripmaterial has been impaled over the point 22. This is true with respectto point 22 even though the ribbon initially was impaled upon the pinover said point, and particularly true with strip material whichcontains fibers in both the lengthwise and cross directions, such asSasheen brand decorative ribbon available from the Minnesota Mining andManufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota.

The conoidal-shaped loops are arranged into three families of loopsuniformly radially distributed about pin 19, these families each forminga point" in the bow. Loops 10, 13 and 16 form family A. Loops I l, 14and 17 form family B. Loops 12, 15 and 18 form family C. The loops ineach family, for example loops 1t 13 and 16, are similarly shaped withthe legs of each loop of the family intersecting at substantially thesame angle. However, the loops within each family are of differentlength, e.g., the length of loop 13 extends radially outwardly of andabout loop 10; similarly the length of loop 16 is greater than that ofloop 13, loop 16 thus extending radially outwardly of and about bothloops 10 and 13. Also, at the center of the bow similar legs of theloops in each family are in substantial registry and in superposition.The loops of each family have a common radial bisector 24A, 24B and 24C.The angle between the bisectors of adjacent families of loops, by whichthe radial disposition of the families is measured, in the three-pointbow shown is about 12.0 degrees.

Since the bow is a symmetrical one, corresponding loops of each familyare of substantially identical lengths and shape. That is, loops 10, 1-1and 12 are of the same length and shape, as are loops 13, 14 and 15, andas are. loops =16, 17 and 18.

As can be seen from the three-dimensional appearance of FIGURES 1 and 2,the loops of the three-point how are formed about the head or base end21 of pin 19, as distinguished from the pointed end of. said pin. Hence,

the logical front or face surface of the bow is that to which the pinbase 21 is adjacent. Such is also the case with the other bows hereofwherein the loop legs intersect in uncreased face-to-back relation.Accordingly, bows of this type conveniently can be attached to a packagewrapper such as paper or thin cardboard by pressing the pin of the bowinto the package wrapper much like pressing a thumb tack into place. Thepoint 22 pierces the package wrapper and, once on the inside of thewrapper, retains the bow in place.

The manner in which the bow in FIGURE 1 can be commercially formed isdescribed in 'our aforementioned Patent No. 2,933,223, in connectionwith the illustrative bow fabricating machine therein disclosed. Also,and for purposes of illustration, our novel bow structure can be formedas will be described with the aid of FIGURE 2. A continuous length ofdecorative ribbon is grasped at two spaced points along its length, oneof which points is adjacent the free end 23 of the ribbon. The portionof the ribbon between said points is then twisted lengthwise and theribbon at said two points brought together in face-to-back relation toform a loop with the legs lila and ltlb thereof intersecting at an angleof 60 degrees. The twist employed in forming the loop is in a singledirection, i.e., is unidirectional. It is sufiicient to permit the facesurface of one leg 10a, to be brought in contact with the back surfaceof the leg ltlb, i.e., in faceto-back relation, where the two legsoverlap, while the bight of the loop remains smoothly arcuate and thelegs remain smooth and uncreased. Pin 19 is then inserted through legsMa and 1% where they intersect, by impaling said legs over the point 22and on to shaft 21 of pin 1'). Thereby the loop legs are retainedtogether.

The first loop litl is then grasped about pin 19 and the ribbon isgrasped at a third point along the continuation of leg lllb at adistance from the pin equal to the length of loop it The ribbon betweenthe pin and said third point is twisted in the same direction as beforeand at the same time the ribbon, at said third point, is brought intocontact with and impaled on pin 19 in face-to-back relation with theportion of ribbon forming continuation of leg lilb. Thus is defined asecond loop 11 with legs lla (the said continuation of leg lilb) and 11bintersecting at an angle of 60 degrees. Loop 12, having legs 12a and 12bintersecting in face-to-back relation at an angle of 60 degrees with leg12a being common with leg 11b, is similarly formed, the ribbon beingtwisted in correspondingly the same direction as in formation of theprevious loops it? and ill. The continuation of leg 1212 will be seen tobe in substantial registry and in superposition with leg lltla of loop=16, three loops radially symmetrically arranged about central pin 1'9having been formed.

Loop i3 is then formed in a similar manner as were the previous loops itill and 12, except that the length thereof is greater than that of theprevious loops. This is accomplished by grasping the ribbon at a pointalong the continuation of leg 12b a distance from pin 19 greater thanthe length of the previous loops. The ribbon is twisted in the samedirection as before and the ribbon impaled on pin 19 to define loop 1-3having legs 13a and 13b intersecting in face-to-back relation at anangle of 60 degrees, leg 13a being a continuation of leg 12b of loop 12.Since the angle of intersection of the legs of 13a and 13b of loop 13 isthe same as the angle of intersection of legs Etta and fish, leg 13alies in substantial registry and in superposition with leg lilo, and leg13b lies in substantial registry and superposition with leg itlb. Thusloop 13 extends radially outwardly of and about loop it). Also, the twoloops it and 13 have a common radial bisector. These two loops define apart of family A, one of the three radially symmetrically disposedfamilies which form the bow of FIGURES l and 2.

The bow is then completed by similarly forming loops lid and 15, aboutloops ill and 12, respectively. Then loops 16, 1.7 and 13, of greaterlength than of the previously formed loops, are similarly formedradially outwardly of and about loops 13, 14 and 15, respectively.

Since the loops of the bow are successively formed of a continuouslength of ribbon, and further since the loop legs and theircontinuations (forming legs of other loops) extend straight anduncreased, the angle at which the legs of each loop intersect isdeterminative of the radial disposition of the several loops about thebow center, as measured between adjacent radial bisectors. Thus it isthe 60 degree angle of intersection of the legs of each loop in the bowshown in FIGURES l and 2 which permits the formation of the symmetricalthree-point how. If such angle in the first loop were greater, or lesserthan 60 degrees, the radial bisector thereof and that of the next loop,formed like the first, would define an angle of less than degrees, andgreater than 120 degrees, respectively. Hence, in such cases, threesymmetrically disposed loops could not result without creasing orbending the loop legs.

Other bows having symmetrically arranged families of loops, wherein thelegs of each loop intersect in uncreased face-to-back relation, can beformed in accordance with the principles hereof. For example, asymmetrical fivepoint bow, such as that shown in FEGURE 4, can be madeWhere the legs of each loop intersect at an angle of 36 degrees, thelength of each of the second five loops being greater than that of thefirst five, and the length of each of the third five loops being greaterthan that of the second. Bows also can be formed wherein the loops arenot arranged in individual symmetrical groups upon appropriate choice ofangles of loop leg intersection, due regard being had for the geometricprinciples involved. 'Such a bow is shown in FIGURE 5. Bows also can beformed in accordance with the present invention wherein the loops arenot conoidal, but instead appear to be bent back over on themselves; seeFIGURE 6. Further, although preferred bows hereof have straightuncreased loop legs, bows also can be formed of loops wherein the looplegs are twisted so as to be folded or creased ad jacent the bow center.As will be shown hereinafter, the bow shown in FIGURE 6 can be fashionedin this manner. Many other bows, containing various numbers andarrangements of loops, and combinations thereof, can be formed inaccordance with the teachings hereof and in our said Patent No.2,933,223, and reference is thus made to the description therein.

As is apparent, the nature and position of the loops of our novel bowsdepend importantly upon the amount of twist or index in the span ofribbon forming each loop. Thus to form a particular bow the appropriateangle of index of the bow is first ascertained. in fabricating preferredbows hereof each loop must be twisted degrees, in addition to the degreeof unidirectional twist necessary for the loop legs to intersect. Thisaccommodates the legs of the loop being brought into face-to-backrelation so that the loop legs remain uncreased or unbent and the loopbights remain smoothly arcuate. Accordingly in computing the desireddegree of twist 180 degrees are added to the desired angle of legintersection. It will be recalled that in the three-point star bow ofFIGURES 1 and 2, the legs of each loop intersect in faceto-back relationat an angle of 60 degrees. Therefore, to form such bow structure theribbon is twisted 240 degrees for each loop formed (180 degrees ofrotation ac commodates the face-:to-back relationship and 60 degreesdefines the desired angle of loop leg intersection).

The first three loops of the bow of FIGURES 1 and 2 are formed of equalspans of ribbon material. The succeeding three loops are also formed ofequal spans of ribbon material each being of greater length than thespans forming the first three, with the remaining three loops beingconstituted of still larger spans of ribbon. The legs of the loops areeach impaled on a central pin 7 as they are formed, resulting in the bowshown in FIG- URE 1.

The five-point bow shown in FEGURE 4 is formed in a similar mannerexcept that the number of loops formed successively out of equilengthspans of ribbon is five instead of three. Also, upon consideration ofthe geometric principles involved, it will be seen that a five-point bowcan be formed where the legs of each loop intersect at an angle ofeither 36 or 108 degrees. Where there is a choice, the minimum angle ofleg intersection preferably is selected. Firstly, the bulk of the loopthereby is reduced minimizing the interference between adjacent loops.Secondly, the sharper the angle of leg intersection, so long as theangle is not so acute that the legs and bight fold or crease, the moresharply pointed the conoidal loop bights appear.

In the five-point bow, the ribbon is thus preferably twisted 216degrees, 180 degrees of rotation accommodating the face-to-backrelationship, and 36 degrees defining the desired angle of loop legintersections. The smaller loop of family AA is first formed followingwhich the corresponding loop in the family CC is formed. Then the loopin position EE, then the loop in position BB and finally the loop inposition DD are formed in the order enumerated. The family ofintermediate length loops and the family of longest length loops arethen formed in similar sequence.

In fabricating the many various possible bows hereof having radiallysymmetric families of loops, and wherein the legs of each loop intersectin uncreased face-to-back relation with each loop leg being common witha leg of each loop immediately in succession therewith, we have foundthe following formula useful in determining a preferable twist angle ofthe ribbon:

where G represents the number of families of loops to be symmetricallyradially disposed, and has a value greater than two; I represents thesmallest integer which will cause the value of D to exceed the 180degrees necessary to accommodate the uncreased face-to-back relation ofloop legs; and D represents the resulting desired degree of twist.

Where the value of D is computed for a bow having an even number ofpoints, and said even number is divisible by two to yield an oddinteger, said value will equal the value of D computed for a bow havinga number of points corresponding with said odd integer. Thus, forexample, the value of D for a six-point bow is 240 degrees-the same asthe value of D for a three-point bow. In such case the bow having thesmaller number of points preferentially is formed when ribbon is twistedalways in the same direction. However, the bow having the larger evennumber of symmetrically disposed points or families of symmetricallydisposed points can be fashioned by modifying the operation slightly.This may be done by first forming one-half of the said even number ofloops by twisting in one direction the computed angle D each time; thenthe remaining one-half of the loops are formed by twisting the ribbonthrough angle D each time in the direction opposite to the formation ofthe first one-half of the loops.

The reverse twisting causes the second half of the loops to be twistedoppositely from the first (each loop, however, being unidirectionallytwisted) and thus to fall in place between loops of the first half. Ifadditional series of loops of different size are to be added to formfamilies of loops, each series is similarly applied.

The basis for the preferential formation of the pointed or star bowshaving the smaller number of loops, and the manner by which bows oftwice the smaller number of loops can be formed will be apparent uponlaying out, e.g., by generating on paper, the geometric configurationsinvolved. It is to be noted, however, that as a rule we have found bowscontaining odd numbers of radially symmetrically disposed families ofloops seem to be somewhat more uniformly shaped than those containingeven numbers of families. Apparently this is because, in the latter 5type, legs of adjacent loops geometrically tend to lie on a common path.Since, this, of cource, is not possible, some of the adjacent loops tendto deform. The angle of twist of the ribbon can be purposely controlledso that families of symmetrically disposed loops are not formed. This isaccomplished simply by selecting an angle of twist for the ribbon whichis a significant variant from any values of D as computed in the aboveformula. For example a bow like that depicted in FEGURE 5, containingconoidalshaped loops, is not composed of families of loops, although itis symmetrical in appearance. it can be fabricated by employing an angleof twist of about 200 degrees, and forming many loops of equal length.

The greater the angle of intersection between the legs of each loop theless pointed the bight of the loops appear. Generally, loops whose legsintersect at greater than about 120 degrees, particularly where theloops are long in comparison with ribbon width, and less than 180degrees, do not appear to be of conoidal shape. (Legs coming together at180 degrees, of course, do not intersect.) Hence, by twisting the ribbonfrom about 300 to less than 360 degrees, bows are formed whose loopsappear tufted, resembling those of the pompon or puff bow, with the loopbights having generally uniform curvature therein across the width ofthe ribbon (as opposed to the loops of conoidal shape, wherein thecurvature in the loop bi ght increases across the ribbon width).

Where the ribbon is twisted less than an angle in the order of 180degrees (or slightly more depending on the relative length of loop towidth of ribbon), insufficient twist is present for the entire loop toform uncreased. creasing should occur in the legs of the loop, and thenonly immediately adjacent the bow center. Then, the bight portions ofbows composed of such loops remain smoothly arcuate and attractive, andthe creased portions remain concealed at the bow center. The samesurface of the ribbon is exposed outwardly in the loops. Such loops arenot of conoidal shape, but rather resemble tufted loops. Accordingly,bows having the appearance of pompon or puff bows can be fashioned byforming many loops about the bow center, varying the lengths of loops orseries of loops, if desired. Extremely attractive bows result, the bowof FIGURE 6 being exemplary of the type just described. When the bow isformed with the use of pin 19 (FIGURE 3), it may be undesirable forreasons of appearance to have the point of the pin exposed at the facesurface of the how. If so, after the bow is formed, the finally appliedleg of the final loop formed can be folded back on itself, and impaledon the pin so as to conceal the point within said final loop.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that many types andvariations of how structures can be formed all in accordance with theprinciples hereof. Multicolor bows can be fashioned, for example, byfirst forming a bow of small radial extent, followed by the formation ofa larger bow of differently colored ribbon about the first bow. Othervariations, undoubtedly, suggest themselves.

We claim:

1. A decorative bow comprising a continuous length of strip materialformed into a succession of loops radiating from a generally centralpoint along at least three radii, said length terminating with its endsadjacent opposite surfaces of the bow defined by said loops, said loopseach having a first leg, a second leg overlying the first leg at saidcentral point and a b ight with each loop having one leg common with theopposite leg of each loop in immediate succession therewith, each ofsaid loops having therein a unidirectional twist with the bight thereofbeing smoothly arcu-ate, the same surface of said strip material beingexposed outwardly in each loop, the superposed layers of said stripmaterial at said central point being impaled by central holding meanswhich penetrates said layers and retains said loops together at saidcentral point, the strip material of said layers being laterallydisplaced in areas immediately adjacent said holding means.

2. A decorative bow comprising a continuous length of strip materialformed into a succession of loops radiating from a generally centralpoint along at least three radii, Said length being free of spacedpredisposed holding member receiving apertures and terminating with itsends adjacent opposite surfaces of the bow defined by said loops, saidloops each having a first leg, a second leg overlying the first leg atsaid central point and a bight with each loop having one leg common withthe opposite leg of each loop in immediate succession therewith, each ofsaid loops having therein a unidirectional twist with the bight thereofbeing smoothly arcuate, the same surfiace of said strip material beingexposed outwardly in each loop, the superposed layers of said stripmaterial at said central point being impaled by central holding meanswhich penetrates said layers and retains said loops together at saidcentral point, the strip material of said layers being laterallydisplaced in areas immediately adjacent said holding means.

3. A decorative bow comprising a continuous length of strip materialformed into succession of loops radiating from a central point, saidlength terminating with its ends adjacent opposite surfaces of the bowdefined by said loops, each of said loops having a first leg, a secondleg and a bight with each loop having one leg common with the oppositeleg of each loop in succession therewith, the legs of each loopintersecting in uncreased fiace-to-back relation at said point, saidloops having a unidirectional twist to accommodate said intersectingrelation and being of generally conoidal shape with the loop bightsbeing smoothly arcuate, and a central holding pin passing through andretaining the loops together at said point, said loops further beingarranged into a least three families uniformly radially distributedabout said holding pin, each family containing a plurality of similarlyshaped loops of different lengths with the loops of greater lengthextending radially outwardly of and about the loops of lesser length.

4. A decorative how comprising a continuous length of strip materialformed into a succession of loops radiating from a generally centralpoint along at least three radii, said length being free of spacedpredisposed holding member receiving apertures and terminating with itsend adjacent opposite surfaces of the bow defined by said loops, saidloops each having a first leg, a second leg overlying the first leg atsaid central point and a bight with each loop having one leg common withthe opposite leg of each loop in immediate succession therewith, saidloops having therein a unidirectional twist with loop legs being creasedadjacent said central point and 'with the loop bights being smoothlyarcuate and of generally uniform curvature across the width thereof, thesame surface of said strip material being exposed outwardly in eachloop, the overlying layers of said strip material at said central pointbeing impaled by central holding means which penetrates said layers andretains said loops together at said central point, the strip material ofsaid layers being laterally displaced in areas immediately adjacent saidholding means.

5. A decorative bow comprising -a continuous length of strip materialformed into a succession of loops radiating from a generally centralpoint along at least three radii, said length being free of spacedpredisposed holding member receiving apertures and terminating with itsends adjacent opposite surfaces of the bow defined by said loops, saidloops each having a first leg, a second leg and a bight with each loophaving one leg common with the opposite leg of each loop in immediatesuccession therewith, each of said loops having therein a unidirectionaltwist with the bight thereof being smoothly :arcuate, the same surfaceof said strip material being exposed outwardly in each loop, and centralholding means retaining said loops together at said point.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A DECORATIVE BOW COMPRISING A CONTINUOUS LENGTH OF STRIP MATERIALFORMED INTO A SUCCESSION OF LOOPS RADIATING FROM A GENERALLY CENTRALPOINT ALONG AT LEAST THREE RADII, SAID LENGTH TERMINATING WITH ITS ENDSADJACENT OPPOSITE SURFACES OF THE BOW DEFINED BY SAID LOOPS, SAID LOOPSEACH HAVING A FIRST LEG, A SECOND LEG OVERLYING THE FIRST LEG AT SAIDCENTRAL POINT AND A BIGHT WITH EACH LOOP HAVING ONE LEG COMMON WITH THEOPPOSITE LEG OF EACH LOOP IN IMMEDIATE SUCCESSION THEREWITH, EACH OFSAID LOOPS HAVING THEREIN A UNIDIRECTIONAL TWIST WITH THE BIGHT THEREOFBEING SMOOTHLY ARCUATE, THE SAME SURFACE OF SAID STRIP MATERIAL BEINGEXPOSED OUTWARDLY IN EACH LOOP, THE SUPERPOSED LAYERS OF SAID STRIPMATERIAL AT SAID CENTRAL POINT IMPALED BY CENTRAL HOLDING MEANS WHICHPENETRATES SAID LAYERS AND RETAINS SAID LOOPS TOGETHER AT SAID CENTRALPOINT, THE STRIP MATERIAL OF SAID LAYERS BEING LATERALLY DISPLACED INAREAS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT SAID HOLDING MEANS.